By NICK STEWART
Exploration activity continues to thrive in the Rainy River and Fort Frances areas, with recent activity from Rainy River Resources Ltd. and Q-Gold Resources Ltd. standing out within the region.
Having acquired their Off Lake property from Nuinsco Resources Ltd. a year-and-a-half ago, Rainy River Resources Ltd. has spent the last months exploring and testing their 25,000-hectare holdings, located 50 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances. To determine the gold and base metal potential of the site, helicopter-supported electromagnetic surveys were conducted throughout the summer. This has led to recent drilling activity, which has been ongoing.
“Two of the drills have been delineating the shape and size of the gold-bearing 17 Zone down to the minus-300 metre level. The purpose of that drilling is to be able to establish a national 43-101 resource estimate under the appropriate guidelines.”
In late August, results for five drill holes were announced, where two of these were drilled into the eastern extension of the 17 Zone, bringing the continuous strike length to 610 metres.
According to Baker, highlights of these results include intersections of 1.5 metres grading 55.60 g/t gold, 3.0 metres grading 11.27 g/t gold and 90.40 g/t gold, 22.5 metres grading 1.30 g/t gold, 7.5 metres grading 2.27 g/t gold, and 13.5 metres grading 1.82 g/t gold.
An analysis of additional laboratory work conducted in prior months has confirmed that one drill hole has intersected the southwest extension of the #34 Nickel Zone, with 0.25 metres grading 1.99 per cent nickel as well as 10.20 g/t palladium, 0.91 g/t platinum and 0.06 per cent copper. This has been of particular interest to Baker, who believes it may play a part in future exploration efforts.
“It potentially could be a high-grade nickel occurrence, and it’s fairly new,” he says. “We think it might be important down the road as we go.”
Recent months have also found the company adding to their core storage facilities by building another tier of core racks. In light of their summer findings, Rainy River Resources has also acquired an option to purchase the mineral rights on three patented claims totaling 466 acres adjoining its southern boundary.
These findings have buoyed Baker’s hopes for the potential establishment of a future gold camp, which he believes to be a possibility.
“It’s very exciting stuff,” he says. “We’re very encouraged by the program.”
Also active in the area is Q-Gold Resources Ltd., whose gold and base metal Mine Centre property located 60 kilometres east of Fort Frances has seen some developments within the last two months.
Following an extensive review of airborne electromagnetic surveys conducted in May, Q-Gold is expected to include new, unspecified drilling targets when it begins the next phase of its exploratory drilling program by early October.
Q-Gold also announced on August 18 that it had contracted Kenora-based Northwest Mineral Development Services to conduct a pre-feasibility study regarding the potential viability of de-watering and re-opening the nearby Foley Gold Mine, currently owned by Q-Gold.
In a press release, Q-Gold states that Ontario Geological Survey reports have indicated the mine may still contain speculative ore reserves of 400,000 tons and 40,000 tons of “proven/provable” ore reserves grading 0.5 ounce of gold per ton; however, these figures are not considered compliant with 43-101 resource estimation standards and are expected to be confirmed via future drilling and sampling.
While 1,160 acres of non-prospective land to the northeast have been relinquished to the Crown, additional staking and claiming have brought the Mine Centre holdings to a total of 26,840 acres.
